softening

Ring Out Wild Bells Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light; The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die. Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow: The year is going, let him go; Ring…

I will speak my truth no matter the consequence. All those little lies I’ve told myself and others– all those strategies and coping mechanisms the little dances I’ve done –each one a little death killing a part of my spirit. For the sake of what? Safety? Ha! Security? Ha! Being liked or approved of? Ha!…

the man playing the harp basks in stillness as the world races by

Mixed media on plywood. The shapes were cut from a watercolor my three year-old painted.

The little girl in me was never told that it wasn’t okay for people to be mean to me. Growing up, I was given the clear message that I had to earn love and that I “deserved” to be punished if I made mistakes. Just being me wasn’t enough for the people and the culture…

photo by John McCormick I had my kids for the last week and had so many things planned, so much I thought we would do and had visioned all kinds of things that would happen. Snuggles by the fire, holiday gatherings, gingerbread-house making, etc. I imagined holiday cheer just oozing out of our experience. Then…